The race is on to elect the next leader of the federal New Democratic Party following Jagmeet Singh’s post-election resignation, and the party recently made public details of the coming contest, which will officially kick off on Sept. 2 and conclude on March 29, 2026.
The application package for those interested in putting their name forward will be made available starting Aug. 20.
While there are a number of prospective candidates for the party’s top job, only two people have definitively stated their intent to run for party leadership so far: author and activist Yves Engler, and activist and farmer Tony McQuail. A number of current and former NDP MPs—including current interim leader and British Columbia MP Don Davies, current Quebec MP Alexandre Boulerice, and former MPs Charlie Angus, Matthew Green, and Nathan Cullen—have indicated they do not intend to put their names forward.
Voting, which will be done by ranked ballot, will end on March 28, with the winner to be announced the following day. According to the race rules, the exact “schedule and methods of voting”—whether by “mail, telephone or online, or a combination thereof”—will be communicated to candidates no later than Dec. 30. As per the rules, the voting period can be “no longer than 21 days.”
The cut-off for new membership sign-ups to be eligible to vote in the contest is Jan. 28, 2026, and candidates are required to have registered and paid deposit fees by Jan. 31 in order to be listed on the ballot. In addition to a $100,000 race entry fee, candidates must submit $25,000 alongside their submission of nomination signatures, $25,000 two weeks before the first debate, another $25,000 by Dec. 30, and $25,000 at the membership cut-off date of Jan. 28.
A party news release notes that three leadership events are planned: a candidate forum to be held sometime in October, followed by the first debate in November, and a second debate in February 2026.
“This is a crucial first step in what will be an important opportunity for New Democrats to come together, rebuild, and elect our new leaders,” reads the release announcing the race details.
Former NWAC head Lynne Groulx has died
Lynne Groulx, who led the Native Women’s Association of Canada as chief executive officer from 2016 to 2024, died on July 16 in her hometown of Cochrane, Ont., at the age of 61.
In an obituary, her death was described as a “sudden passing.”
“Lynne leaves behind a lasting legacy of selfless advocacy. She was a proud member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Throughout her life, she championed the rights of women, Indigenous Peoples, and marginalized communities. She will be remembered as a fierce advocate for justice, a tireless community leader, and a compassionate presence in the lives of many,” reads the obituary.
Prior to joining NWAC, Groulx worked for the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Reacting to the news, Women and Gender Equality Minister Rechie Valdez posted on X that she was “[d]eeply saddened to hear” of Groulx’s passing. “She was a tireless advocate for the rights and safety of Indigenous women and girls. My condolences to her family, friends, and all those she inspired.”
A private ceremony for friends and family is planned for Groulx, and the obituary requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and the Minwaashin Lodge: Indigenous Women’s Support Centre in Ottawa.
Arctic ambassador unveiled
Canada’s newest Arctic ambassador will be Virginia Mearns, Foreign Minister Anita Anand announced on July 24.
An Iqaluit resident who is Inuk, Mearns is coming from her role as senior director of Inuit relations at the Qikiqtani Inuit Association.
“As Canada’s Senior Arctic Official, Ambassador Mearns will advance Canada’s polar interests in multilateral forums, engage with counterparts in Arctic and non-Arctic states, and serve as a representative in our diplomatic corps. With this appointment, we are fulfilling a key commitment in Canada’s Arctic Foreign Policy, to which we have dedicated $35-million,” Anand said in a social media post.
The Arctic Foreign Policy was announced in December, and alongside the commitment to appoint an ambassador included a promise to open new consulates in Anchorage, Alaska, and Nuuk, Greenland; work towards a resolution of Arctic boundaries; to establish an Arctic and northern Indigenous youth internship program.
Library and Archives Canada Scholar Awards to honour Ramadan, MacMillan, Kaur, Highway, and Boulianne-Tremblay
The Library and Archives Canada Scholar Awards for 2025 will honour a quintet of “Canadians whose contributions have left a lasting impact on our country’s cultural, literary, and historical heritage.”
This year’s honourees are: Syrian Canadian author and activist Danny Ramadan; vaunted historian and professor Margaret MacMillan; poet, performer, and feminist Rupi Kaur; Indigenous playwright, novelist, pianist, and composer Tomson Highway; and writer, actor, screenwriter, and trans rights advocate Gabrielle Boulianne-Tremblay.
The awards will be handed out during an invite-only Oct. 22 reception at Library and Archives Canada.
Former Poilievre staffer joins Summa Strategies
Bryce McRae has joined Summa Strategies as a senior consultant where he is taking his first step into the private sector after six years working in various public roles including his time in the offices of Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre and Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy.
“I’m not getting as many calls on a Saturday, but otherwise I wouldn’t say it’s really that different given my previous roles … being so front-facing,” said McRae in an interview with The Lobby Monitor published July 23. “The skills and experiences have definitely transferred over very well.”
Prior to joining Summa, McRae was manager of stakeholder relations in Poilievre’s office between June 2023 and May 2025.
“Working with external stakeholders across industries, sectors, and organizations was a major part of that role,” he said.
“Being able to really take all of that information and formulate it in a way that was productive and helped move the needle is something that has been significantly beneficial,” he said, adding that “the role in [Poilievre]’s office—working across various policy files—really opened up the breadth of the folks that I got to meet and showed the different dynamics that exist across government, across corporate and non-profit spaces.”
At Summa, McRae—whose CV also includes working as a policy and operations assistant to then-senator Doug Black from April to October 2021—will be focused on advancing “the priorities of organized labour in this country,” as well as advising clients, supporting government relations strategies, and helping clients navigate both federal and provincial landscapes.
—Sergiy Slipchenko
The Hill Times